W.I.P. - Backstory will be finished shortly
B O M B S H E L L
V A N E S S A T A Y L O R C A S S I D Y ◼ 1 0 / 2 7 / 1 9 9 6 ( 2 1 ) ◼ F E M A L E ◼ H Y P E R H U M A N
"Boo!"
"Like what you see?"
//STATS:◼ HEIGHT | 5'-3"◼ WEIGHT | 105 lbs◼ BUILD | Petite Hourglass◼ MEASUREMENTS | 34-24-34◼ BRA SIZE | 32B◼ HAIR COLOR | Dark brunette with steaks of strawberry blonde◼ EYE COLOR | Green◼ TATTOOS | A black rose tattoo with a thorny stem adorns Cassie's right hip bone. Her shoulders have tribal bat-wings on them, while a skull with a snake crawling through it sits on the upper inside of her left arm. On the left side of her ribcage are the following words:
'Well I remember, I remember don't worry
How could I ever forget,
It's the first time, the last time we ever met
But I know the reason why you keep your silence up,
No you don't fool me
The hurt doesn't show
But the pain still grows
It's no stranger to you and me'
A knife tattoo covers a scar on the right side of her collarbone, down the blade are the words 'Rest in Peace'. Her final tattoo is a pair of bombs made to look like cherries which sits on the upper area of her left thigh, slightly more towards her groin.◼ PIERCINGS | Four in her left ear, one in her right. Cassie has a nose piercing along with both nipples, her naval and several bar piercings on her lower back which have a black ribbon threaded through them to give a 'corset' like effect.◼ SCARS | Cassie has a notable scar on the right side of her collarbone however it has been covered up with a tatto. She has several small scars dotting her back and a long jagged scar on the left side of her abdomen. 
Standing at roughly five feet and three inches tall (5'-3"), Cassie is a woman slightly below average height for her sex. As such, she doesn't cut an overly intimidating figure, at least until she locks eyes with you. It's Cassie's eyes which cause many would be suitors to second guess approaching the otherwise stunning woman. Her fierce green eyes give away the fact there's something wild and untamed behind them. Piercing and keen, it's almost as though her eyes can't stop moving as they swish from side to side, taking in their surroundings constantly. A side effect from the traumatic scaring of her childhood.
Cassie has a scar above her collarbone on her right shoulder from where Strider held a knife to her. Often Cassie can be found wearing the same outfit, a dark purple leather jacket with a small black backpack slung over her one shoulder. Her back pack contains some cosmetics, first aid and of course a few spare clothes while she’s on the run. Along with a water flask and whatever food she can manage to have on her at the time.
Due in part to her abilities, Cassie isn't known for practical footwear, and she almost always wears her thigh high heeled boots Paired with a pair of fishnet stockings and a frilled skirt, Cassie's ensemble has a certain 'Punk Rock Ho' vibe to it. She prefers to think of it as a the best balance of Gothic, Punk and even Japanese Lolita subcultures. This can also be seen reflected in her dark smokey make up preferences and numerous eye piercings. Cassie as three small silver hoops in the arc of her left ear while a small skull sits in the lobe. On her right ear, Cassie has a simple silver bar which slightly dangles from the lobe. A small jewel nose piecing sits to the right of her bridge.
"I'm going to need another drink."
A powerful set of lungs alerted the world of the birth of Vanessa Taylor Cassidy as she was pulled from the womb screaming in the dead of one cold Crescent City night. Born to doting parents, William and Liliana spoiled their little princess during her early childhood. However that all changed one hot summer when a notorious man by the name of Lucas Strider went on a crime spree throughout the city. This spree was isolated to the districts of Somerset, the Wharf, the Sound and Little Santiago. A sexual predator, rapist and family annihilator, Strider left a rather notable body count in his wake including both William and Liliana.
During the attack on their home, Vanessa managed to call 911 although she was caught by Strider before having the chance to express the situation to the operator on the other side. Having already dispatched both of Vanessa's parents, Strider believed himself free to have his way with the young girl and began to take his time, tormenting Vanessa. Pressing a knife against Vanessa's skin as he began to cut off her shirt, Vanessa screamed in terror as Strider smiled wickedly at her. However this scream was not the simple scream of a terrified girl, but the a scream laden with adrenaline that woke something within her. The combination of trauma and puberty awoke latent Hyperhuman abilities in Vanessa which manifested a portal around her. Teleporting to the safety of her bedroom, Strider cried out in pain in the living room as Vanessa's portal had taken his hand as well. Cursing as he pulled himself to his feet, Strider scrambled for another knife, giving chase to Vanessa only to be pulled back by William. Having underestimated William's constitution, Strider believed he had left the man for dead however William had managed to fight through his wounds, coming to his daughter's aid. Struggling with the older man, Strider found his knife being turned on him as the house was flood with red and blue flashing lights. As the police entered the room, mistaking William for Strider and opening fire. Letting go as his he finally succumbed to his wounds, William rolled off of Strider, as the police realized their mistake. In the end, Strider was taken into custody as police tried to console the now parent-less Vanessa.
For several years after that night, Vanessa refused to speak a word. Put in the care of her grandmother, Vanessa was put into both speech and psychological therapy in order to help cope with what she had been through and witnessed. Still the girl refused to speak, often flying into blind fits when called her name one too many times. It was eventually determined that Strider had repeatedly said the name 'Vanessa' over and over again causing the young girl to disassociate with the name as it terrified her now to hear her own name uttered. The doctor decided to sit the girl down and ask her what she would prefer to be called, after an afternoon of coloring, the doctor noted a name scribbled on the corner of one of the sheets. Vanessa had written her own surname only to have crossed it out and wrote 'Cassie' in its place. As such Vanessa became Cassie and slowly the girl began to find her voice. Still though, the doctors find the progress to be slow and decided it was necessary to teach the girl an alternate way to communicate. To this end, Cassie was taught American Sign Language, her grandmother learning along with her as she finally had a way to hold a conversation with her young granddaughter.
-Her grandmother was a devout Catholic and took Cassie to church for both confirmation and mass on a weekly basis. Unknown to both Cassie's grandmother and therapists, Cassie actually spoke to Father Juan in confessional.
-Addictions.
-At the age of nineteen, Cassie was on her way home from work. Caught in the rain, she turned down an alley to shield herself from the downpour when she came upon a man assaulting a woman. Overcome with rage, Cassie attacked the man, accidentally teleporting him away.
-Running away after that incident, Cassie refused to return home and began to live on the streets. Using a combination of her looks, abilities and general smarts to get by. The storm of late however has put a damper on her lifestyle and Cassie finds herself looking for a more permanent solution to wait out the storm.
▼ M O T I V A T I O N / O B J E C T I V E:
"It's only me out here."
Truth be told, Cassie is a little girl scared of the world which is out to kill her. As such she puts on a bravado of a tough chick with a chip on her shoulder who only looks out for herself. Cassie comes across as flirtatious, confident and powerful but actually doubts her control over her abilities especially because of her 'over heats'. She loves to act as a heart breaker and will attract the attention of males to ensure she's 'well protected' only to use her powers to run when the situation starts to look bleak. As such, she is highly manipulative and often not trustworthy.
When backed into a corner, confronted or challenged, Cass can become brutal and harsh. Often going for the proverbial throat, Cass shows no mercy and usually runs after everything is said and done. Due to being abandoned by her parents, Cassie has abandonment and commitment issues. She rarely trusts people and often only feigns loyalty until something better comes along.
That's not to say Cassie is a bad person. She is ever hopeful of a day where she won't have to run. When Cassie allows her facade to drop, she will stand up for what she believes in and will fight side by side with any allies she has left. Though she's scared, Cassie will always stand defiant and one day that might even develop into true bravery.
▼ A B I L I T I E S / S K I L L S:
"Uh, how about I see ya never."
//ABILITIES:◼ PORTAL CREATION | Cassie has the ability to teleport herself and an unknown mass at a maximum distance of five hundred meters (500m approximately 1,600 feet). This can be over come however if Cassie is directly looking at a photograph of her intended target. Cassie’s teleportation happens through variable portal sizes which appear around her and any other mass she's taking with her when she uses her abilities. Cassie can also redirect her portals, or even create multiple portals with extreme focus to optimize her abilities in both offensive and defensive methods.
In order to use her abilities in an offensive manner, Cassie can create portals in the shape of small orbs which she launches at her enemies. The orbs explode and can teleport whatever mass they hit to the last location Cassie thought when she released the orb. The portals can also sever off parts of the mass they hit depending on the focus involved. An unfocused orb will explode in a large radius and take whatever it comes in contact with where as a focused orb will only teleport that which Cassie wishes it to. Alternately, with a lot of focus and effort, Cassie can chain together portals to redirect attacks or extend her own physical range. To give an example of this Cassie could throw a portal pass her opponent while simultaneously opening one in front of herself thus creating a bridge to hit her foe in the back of the head. This method of attack, and any multiple portal application, is severely draining on Cassie and is a last resort.
//SKILLS:■ ASL | Having spent several years without speaking, Cassie's speech therapist introduced her to and educated her in American Sign Language. Being a competent user of it, Cassie can communicate proficiently with most individuals who have an understanding of it. She herself can be overwhelmed by the speed at which life long users sign but this can often be overcome.
◼ IMPROMTU COMBATANT | Cassie has no martial arts training, nor has she used a sword, shot a gun nor a bow. But she is very handy at using her environment and what ever is around her in a fight. Well that means throwing sand in her opponents eyes, teleporting out the support of a wall or swinging a sledge hammer. Cassie will use whatever is around her to fight.
◼ LOCK PICKING | Being on the run for as long as she has been, Cassie has learned to pick a lock whether to find shelter or to steal the essentials to survive. Training on the street, Cassie had to learn to lock pick when she was frightened of her abilities.
◼ PICKPOCKET | Also due to living on the streets, and in part thanks to her abilities, Cassie makes an excellent pickpocket, teleporting away if she's caught or using her teleportation to close a gap only to escape again. Her purple smoke usually confusing most people, blinding them while she takes their wallet, keys or any other valuables.
◼ SEDUCTION | Despite her PTSD, Cassie is no stranger to using her feminine wiles to gain her an upper ground. In fact she finds a certain amount of strength in using her looks and sexuality to manipulate those around her, particularly men. This is generally how Cassie gets what she needs, whether it be food, money or clothing, seduction usually gets her where she needs to be long enough to get what she desires and disappear in a purple haze.
◼ SURVIVALIST | Cassie will do whatever she has to survive. For this reason alone she can't always be trusted because she's known to sell out her team mates to ensure her own safety. Cassie will also abandon allies if they're going to put her at risk.
//LIMITATIONS:■ ADDICTION | Cassie suffers from an addiction to sleeping pills, as well as predispostion towards alcohol. Often mixing the two depsite warnings from those who have cared about her in the past. In some instances Cassie needs a drink to accompany a meal, often refusing to relax until she has one in her hand. Whether this is a placebo effect, addiction or both isn't yet determined. She can't sleep without sleeping pills, whether its an afternoon nap or a full night's rest. Cassie believes she needs the pills or her nightmares will come.
■ BERSERK BUTTON | At the age of eleven, Cassie was sexual assaulted and nearly raped by Lucas Strider. She also witnessed the death of her father while her mother's murderer was carted off and put in jail where he had a roof over his head and was provided three meals per day along with free education. While Cassie uses her memories to fuel her will to survive, they are also a crutch to her. Victims of sexual assault often cause her to become unhinged and unfocused while guns can unnerve Cassie and she's especially vulnerable to seeing someone near death or dead in front of her. Unexpected displays of affection can also unnerve Cassie causing her to become hostile. Furthermore, her given name 'Vanessa' serves as a trigger as Lucas repeatedly said her name as he was attempting to undress her. This is why she goes by the name 'Cassie' instead of Vanessa.
◼ CLAUSTROPHOBIA | Due to her powers, Cassie suffers from a suffocating case of claustrophobia. If she cannot escape a room or feels closed in, she begins to panic and experience severe anxiety attacks. This can lead to spontaneous teleporting which is not only a risk for her but also those around her.
■ PTSD | Despite having been in and out of therapy over the past ten years, Cassie still suffers from symptoms of PTSD due to Strider's actions. Cassie is completely dependent on sleeping pills in order to get anything close to a semblance of rest each night. Often tossing and turning due to nightmares and the haunting visage of the man with a knife pressed against her. Even during the day if Cassie allows her thoughts to wander, she finds herself reliving the event, experiencing intense flashbacks. The smell of blood or the brand of cheap body spray that Strider wore can act as a trigger. News reports of sexual assaults or rapes can set Cassie's PTSD off as can hearing the song 'Escape' by Rupert Holmes.
For this reason, Cassie avoids playing music before bed since it was a tradition of her parents and one that lead to 'Escape' being played before their murders. Cassie also refuses to sleep with a window open or unlocked, and ensures every door has at least two locks on it. If Cassie tries to go to bed while anything in her apartment is similar to the night of the assault then she will end up avoiding sleep altogether.
Cassie has trouble forming relationships, and can be seen as very untrusting. She tends to view the world at its worst and sees it as a dangerous and untamed animal. As such, Cassie has never had a boyfriend or any sort of significant other never being able to get past a first date or one night stands. She's constantly on alert, her eyes twitching back and forth constantly searching for any threats to herself. Often Cassie fidgets, tapping a foot or hand on whatever surface is nearby, often jittery especially in new environments. She's prone to mood swings, suddenly becoming angry or irritable without any notice. Cassie always checks her surroundings, especially in a new location, always sitting with her back to a wall and never a window, door or open space. Additionally Cassie doesn't take kindly to being snuck up on or surprised.
◼ SUBTLY | The portals that Cassie creates appear in a flash of purple light followed by a loud sharp pop and a haze of purple smoke. As such, her abilities are not situated for stealth and her arrival and subsequent disappearance is very noticeable
◼ RANGE | Her abilities however are very taxing on her body and in order for Cassie to teleport long distances she needs to be able to see her target. Cassie can not teleport to someplace she has never seen though her range isn't limited. Within a close range, she has a very high spatial awareness and is practically unable to teleport into walls or any other obstacles. However as the distance increases her spatial awareness decreases raising the chance of her colliding with obstacles or ending up halfway through a wall. The only exception to this, is teleporting through use of photographs, and even this is risky as photographs only capture a moment in time. There's nothing to guarantee that the area has not changed and that Cassie won't find herself stuck in a bed or another person.
//WEAKNESSES:◼ ELECTRICITY | Cassie also can't use her powers when afflicted by electrical shock. Any level of electricity with voltage higher than the human body's natural bio-electric level causes Escapist to de-syncronize with her ability and renders her teleportation null and void.
◼ LEAD | Lead is the only material known to Cassie she can't teleport past. For whatever reason, lead is able to block her ability causing Cassie to re-materialize in front of whatever obstacle contains the material. This can be as obvious as a lead door or as convoluted as a series of lead pipes blocking her path. As such, Cassie has a dislike of older buildings and industrial settings where lead tends to be found most frequently
◼ OVERHEATING | The largest draw back to Cassie's powers is that with constant use her powers begin to overhead. Cassie's body is like an engine core that requires cooling or else it will overload. With each jump that she makes, her body comes that much closer to over heating. There is a lot of variables which affect how quickly Cassie will overheat. Rate of use, range, how much mass she's teleporting or how many portal's she's manifesting. If Cassie does overheat, her body ejects a large portal which envelopes her and anything around her teleporting them to an unknown location. Cassie is left temporarily helpless if this happens as she's stuck in a 'cool down' period. The length of this period is affected by how quickly she overheated. The quicker she overheated, the longer the cool down period and the further away she's transported. As such, Cassie is hesitant to use her powers subsequently.
"I don't really do relationships."
//SUPPORTING CAST:▼ ALLIES◼ TBD | Test
▼ FRIENDS◼ CASSIDY, LILIANA (neé DELGADO) | Cassie's late mother. Named by her parents after the 'Lilly of the Valley' found outside of New Lilith, Liliana met and married William in their early twenties. She stayed at home during the first seven years of Cassie's life, eventually returning to work the year Cassie entered into the second grade. Working as a paralegal, Liliana made a decent wage and upon her death, the 'Reid and Reid' Lawfirm ensured Ellara was put into the care of her grandmother instead of into the system.
◼ CASSIDY, WILLIAM | Cassie's late father. William used to regal his daughter with tales of Larissa's legendary heroes the Mavericks. In truth, William knew the Mavericks better than most having been on the receiving end of IllAdvised's fist more than once in his youth. Growing up, William had been pressured into gang life, ending up running with the Harbour Kings. However due to the interference of the Mavericks, the gang was eventually shut down and William was able to attend Grimm University, taking a degree in Power Engineering. Before his death he had been working at the Michaels' Power Plant. Charles Michaels himself personally ensured that Vanessa would receive William's full pension on the day of her eighteenth birthday.
◼ DELGADO, ADALIND | Cassie's grandmother and caretaker for most of her life. A very religious and superstitious woman, Adalind was initially hesitant to take Cassie into her home. However, she was unable to say no to her own granddaughter and eventually the two bonding, Adalind learning sign language along with Cassie. In fact, sign language was a greater gift than Adalind could have anticipated as it allowed her to communicate with other elderly members of her church that had begun to lose their hearing. Seeing Cassie as a blessing in her life, Adalind made sure to thank God every time she prayed for showing her his plan for bringing Cassie into her life.
◼ DEL CARO, JUAN | Father or Padre Juan is the Priest which resides over St. Makarios' Cathedral. For most of Cassie's early teens he acted as a father figure to the young girl and still acts as her confident today. Padre Juan is aware of Cassie's nighttime activities but as part of his oath does not utter a word from confessional. While the Father tells Cassie that God does not appreciate sin, a small part of the local priest can't help but sympathize with the girl, although he has tried to push her towards using her abilities for the benefit of others. Having grown up in Little Santiago, the Mavericks did a lot to bring prosperity into the poorer regions of Crescent City and while most of the city turned on the heroes in the end, Juan and his family stood by their heroes.
▼ ENEMIES
◼ STRIDER, LUCAS | When Lucas was seventeen his father divorced his mother leaving the pair nearly penniless. This planted the seeds of rage within Marcus who held both his parents accountable for the split and eventually leading to him murdering his mother and then hunting down his father. However, unbeknownst to Lucas, his father had left Crescent City leading to him seeking our surrogates. Lucas went on a twelve day rapidly devolving killing spree that was ended when he invaded the Cassidy family home. Having taken William Cassidy by surprise, Marcus took his time assaulting and tormenting Liliana before killing her and coming after their eleven year old daughter Vanessa. Underestimating William, Lucas was prevented from raping the child as William re-engaged him. The fight was brought to an end when the police arrived and shot William to prevent him from killing Lucas. Lucas was then apprehended and sentenced to lifetime without chance of bail in Cliffside Penitentiary. Recently, he has been reported missing from Ciffside. Lucas' cell was found to be compromised during the storm and during transport the family annihilator escaped.
//STOMPING GROUNDS◼ TBD | Test
//PARAPHERNALIA◼ ALCOHOL | Cassie always has a few bottles clinking around in her backpack.
◼ FIRST AID KIT | A small first aid kit that can be used to treat basic injuries, Cassie has it for the sake of looking safe but she's never had to use it.
◼ SLEEPING PILLS| Over the counter or prescription, Cassie has both and is completely dependent on the pills in order to get anything resembling a good night's rest when she closes her eyes.
◼ SPARE CLOTHES | Outside of alcohol and sleeping pills, Cassie's backpack contains several spare tank tops and skirts, although the majority of her spare clothes are various pairs of underwear and several bras. Above all else, she values clean underwear and knows how far the right pair can go to getting a man to do whatever she wants him to.
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